Hope Valley RUFC

Date: 19th December 2009
Venue: Away
Result: Postponed due to an unplayable pitch

Date: 12th December 2009
Venue: Home
Result: Win
Final Score: Hope Valley 66 – Ashton 0

Tries:
Dave Warren x 2
Rory Williams x 2
Martin Spencer x 1
Ric Spencer x 1
Steve Hudson x 1
Dave Ryder x 1
Tom Hodgson x 1
Tommy McGuigan x 1

Conversions:
Ric Spencer x 8

Match Report:
Hope Valley, still unbeaten at the top of the 5 East table , played Ashton for the second time this season. They started downhill for the first half, and immediately put pressure on the visitors.. This was rewarded by an early try to Warren, chipping over and gathering the ball to score. 5-0. In reasonable conditions the Valley back line harassed Ashton, with good runs from Hudson and Warren.

Further pressure saw Martin Spencer power through to score under the posts, with Ric Spencer getting the conversion 12-0. The Valley backs continued to use the slope to their advantage, running at Ashton and chasing kicks deep into Ashton’s territory. This culminated with a Valley scrum close to the Ashton line, with the ball being passed down the line for R Spencer to score out wide, converting his own try to make it 19-0. A clever kick from Cornes put more pressure on the visitors, and Hodgson drove through to score a converted try under the posts to make it 26-0. The game was being played at a frenetic pace, with Valley surging on , with both Wain and Johnson prevalent. A quickly taken tap penalty was passed through the three quarters and out to Ryder who scored near the touchline to make it 31-0 at half time.

Ashton pressurised from the restart, now playing with the slope, but danger was averted by a good clearance from McGuigan, who had come on as a replacement. This allowed Valley to get into their opponents 22, following a good run by Charmasson. Yet more good handling from the Valley backs allowed another replacement Williams to score on the wing, converted by Spencer to make it 38-0. Further strong drives came from Woodall, Hodgson and Charmasson but they just failed to breach the try line.

A scrum in their 22 saw the ball again passed down the line for Hudson to score, again converted by Spencer to make it 45-0. A good run down the right hand side by McGuigan eluded the Ashton players, and let in Warren for his second try, making it 52-0 after the conversion. The Valley pack now took control, with Williams getting his second try off the bak off a lineout, again converted 59-0. From the restart more excellent passing saw a try to McGuigan to finish the game off, making it 66-0 at the finish.

Valley are now still at the top of the league, scoring 707 points and conceding only 47, now 13 games unbeaten.

Date: 28th November 2009
Venue: Away
Result: Win
Final Score: Hope Valley 96 – Dukinfield 5

Tries
Mike Woodhouse x 2
Dean Ancell x 4
Luc Charmasson x 2
Steve Hudson x 2
Lee Hutchinson x 2
Martin Spencer x 1
Tom Hodgson x 2
Dave Warren x 1

Conversions
Ric Spencer x 8

Match Report
On a muddy and waterlogged pitch Valley put pressure on from the start, winning a scrum on Dukinfields 22. The ball was won, and passed swiftly down the valley back line for Woodhouse on the wing to score 0-5. Valley continued to dominate in difficult conditions , and Ancell broke through the Dukinfield ranks to score 0-10. The ball was kicked through by Warren with plenty of Valley players pressurising and enabling Charmasson to score , with Spencer getting his first conversion of the day 0-17.

Dukinfield responded and their back line attacked the Valley 22, only for Hudson to grab a cheeky interception, racing away to score under the posts, converted by Spencer for 0-24 after only twelve minutes. Dukinfield responded well though, and from a lineout close to the Valley line they scored to make it 5-24. This acted as a wake up call for Valley and showed them that the game was far from won. Another scrum was won by the Valley pack on the Dukinfield 22, and Hutchinson somehow managed to dodge the Dukinfield players and score under the posts. 5-29.

The valley backs produced a great piece of running rugby, with the ball being passed down the line and back inside. The valley attack was relentless, and Ancell skipped past three defenders to score again, converted by Spencer 5-36. A blindside attack from valley brought another try to Woodhouse, filling in on the wing, and showing a surprising turn of speed, converted by Spencer 5-43. Next Hudson again showed his pace scoring a breakaway try from the valley 22, converted by Spencer to make it 5-50 at halftime.

The second half produced a try for replacement Martin Spencer, following up a break by Hodgson from the halfway line. 5-55. Hodgson was again in the thick of the action, breaking off the back of a scrum ten yards out to score, 5-60. Valley drove again into the Dukinfield half, and a kick through by Spencer was gathered by Warren to get his name on the score sheet, 5-65. Valley continued to pressurise, winning their lineouts and driving on, and more powerful  running from Ancell giving him his hat trick 5-72.

To Dukinfields credit they continued to compete, and their experienced pack caused valley some problems in the loose. A break in play saw Dave Ryder take to the field with the water bottles to bring some levity to the afternoon. It’s great that he is released into the community on Saturdays to play rugby…

Play resumed and the surging runs continued, with Ancell breaking to set up Hodgson for his second try 5-77. The valley backs then got back in the action with a good run from Woodhouse, and Charmasson in support got his second try, converted by Spencer to make it 5-84. Again the ball was passed through the back line for the ever present Ancell to score, again converted by Spencer to make it 5-91. The game was finished off with a try to Hutchinson which would have looked better on a football pitch, hacking the ball through and controlling it before he could pounce over the try line, final score 5-96.

The game was played in  a great spirit and the score does not do Dukinfield justice, as they competed throughout. As one of their players commented “We did really well until they got the ball” .

Date: 21st November 2009
Venue: Home
Result: Win
Final Score: Hope Valley 56 – Old Bedians 11

Tries
Kasey Blackwell x 1
Ben Somerton x 1
Tom Hodgson x 3
Dave Warren x 3
Steve Hudson x 1
Dave Ryder x 1

Conversions
Dave Warren x 3

Man of the Match
Rory Williams
Ben Somerton

Date: 14th November 2009
Venue: Home
Result: Win
Final Score: Hope Valley 61 – Bury 0

Tries
Martin Spencer x 1
Joris Gladstone x 1
Will Wain x 1
Dean Ancell x 2
Steve Hudson x 2
Tom Hodgson x 2

Conversions
Rick Spencer x 8

Man of the Match
Mike Woodhouse
John Boy Eyre

Match Report

Hope Valley fielded a strong side with plenty of replacements for this home fixture. The weather conditions were not ideal for flowing rugby, with driving rain and blustery winds throughout. Valley put on initial pressure with a kick through from Woodhouse, but Bury had a chance for the first points with a penalty which went wide. Valley again pressurised, with Lee Hutchinson charging a kick down and driving towards the Bury line. A valley penalty was awarded, and Martin Spencer drove over powerfully for the first try, converted by Rick Spencer. 7-0.

The Valley backs continued to make breaks through Woodhouse and Hudson, and Bury again conceded a penalty close to their line. This time Gladstone managed to power over for another try, again converted 14-0. Good running from the restart by Johnson and Woodhouse again saw Bury penalised and a quick tap let in Ancell for another try 19-0. The backs again ran at Bury, and Hudson eluded their tacklers to score, again converted 26-0.

The pressure continued with will Wain scoring from the back of the lineout, Spencer again converting 33-0. The pressure on Bury was relentless, with Valley again driving on, and skipper Hodgson got on the score sheet, again converted, for 40-0 at half time. The conditions were still very poor, but Valley pressurised uphill, with Hodgson driving on, and the ball was passed through the backs for Hudson to score, yet again converted 47-0.

The ball remained with the pack for some time, with good work in the scrums and mauls. Bury pressurised the Valley line trying to get on the scoreboard, but the defence was strong. The ball  was stolen at the line by Eyre, enabling Valley to clear their lines at a particularly threatening moment, with Cornes kicking well clear. Hodgson scored a long range try, running more than half the pitch, making it 54-0 with the conversion. The game was finished off with another long range try to Ancell, and another conversion for Spencer making it 61-0 over a full eighty minutes.

Date: 7th November 2009
Venue: Away
Result: Win
Final Score: Hope Valley 75 – Burnage 3

Tries
Steve Hudson x 4
Dean Ancell x 2
Tom Hodgson x 2
Martin Spencer x 1
Richard Mosley x 1
Dave Warren x 1
John Eyre x 1

Conversions
Rick Spencer x 7

Man of the Match
Martin Spencer

Mandy of the Match
Ric Spencer

Match Review
Valley started the game brightly, with a move through the midfield resulting in a try to Hudson 0-5. The Burnage pack was initially causing the visitors problems, with several scrums being lost, and their pressure was rewarded by a penalty 3-5.

A chip over from Hodgson resulted in a penalty 5 metres out. A powerful drive from Martin Spencer brought the second try 3-10. The valley pack now got more into the game, with Hodgson picking up from the back of the scrum and driving close to the Burnage line. Further pressure close to the line resulted in a try to Ancell 3-15.

From the restart valleys backs sprang into action with a try under the posts for centre Hudson, which was converted by Spencer 3-22. Valley again kicked deep into the Burnage half, and Mosley charged down an attempted clearance and scored to make it 3-27 at half time.

Valley carried on with the pressure, and Ryder made a strong run down the right, with the ball being passed out down the line for Warren to score, converted by Spencer 3-34. Further strong running by Ryder and a good passing move creating a try for Ancell, again converted 3-41. A clever kick from Spencer gave a lineout close to the Burnage line, and the Valley pack pressurised, with hooker Eyre forcing over to score, converted by Spencer 3-48.

From a scrum on the halfway line number 8 Hodgson again picked up and drove, breaking through to score 3-53. Valley kept up the pressure, and Hodgson scored again from the back of the scrum close to the Burnage line, converted by Spencer 3-60. Valley’s fitness was starting to show, with Warren breaking through only to be stopped just short. Hudson made a strong run again, scoring under the posts, 3-67.

Finally, a clever kick through by Mosley collected by Hudson for his fourth of the game, again converted by Spencer 3-74. The referee stopped the match ten minutes early, much to the annoyance of the valley supporters, and surely not appropriate in a league fixture.

Valley play Bury 3rds XV next in Castleton on Saturday 14th Nov.

Date: 31st October 2009
Venue: Home
Result: Walkover for Hope Valley
Final Score: Match conceded by Oldham

Date: 24th October 2009
Venue: Away
Result: Win
Final Score: Hope Valley 96 – Broughton 0

Tries:
Steve Hudson x 4
Dean Ancell x 6
Tom Hodgson x 1
Ric Spencer x 1
Martin Spencer x 1
Dave Ryder x 1

Conversions:
Richard Spencer x 13

Man of the Match
Dean Ancell

Mandy of the Match
Matt Johnson

Match Report

Both teams took time to settle in the early stages of the game, with Broughton being penalised repeatedly for high tackles. Valley broke the deadlock with a drive down the middle by hudson, scoring under the posts, with Spencer converting 0-7.

Valley ran at Broughton from the restart, turning the ball over in the scrum and passing the ball through the backs for hudson to jink through again and score, spencer converting 0-14. Wain was replaced by Gladstone due to injury. Again valley ran at Broughton from the restart, with strong running from Hodgson, and recycling through the backs to Hudson, who scored again for his hat trick, again converted by spencer 0-21. Next, from a scrum on the halfway line Hodgson picked up to power through to score out wide 0-26.

Valley were in command now and a kick through from spencer was chased and gathered by Ancell to score, Spencer converting 0-33. Again from the restart, Valley passed the ball through the line for Hudson to score yet again, converted by Spencer 0-40. Broughton had no answer to Valleys attacking runs, the ball again going through hands for Ancell to score again, Spencer converting 0-47 at half time.

Martin Spencer replaced Woodall, and valley pressure continued, with Ric Spencer breaking from behind the scrum to score under the posts, converting his own try 0-54. Ancell again showed pace to power through and score out wide, with Ric Spencer converting 0-61. valley forwards surged forward next, with Martin Spencer driving on to score, again converted 0-68. Winger Dave Ryder was next to score, the ball being passed down the line 0-75. The rout continued with three more tries to Dean Ancell, all converted to make it 0-96. the referee blew the final whistle ten minutes early with valley looking to score a century plus, still top of the table.

Date: 17th October 2009
Venue: Home
Result: Walkover for Hope Valley
Final Score: Match conceded by Old Bedians

Date: 10th October 2009
Venue: Away
Result: Win
Final Score: Hope Valley 19 – Village Spartans 5

Tries:
Steve Hudson x 1
Matt Johnson x 1
Tom Hodgson x 1

Conversions:
Richard Spencer x 2

Man of the Match
We’ll let you know next week!!!

Match Report

Valley took the field wearing their new 30th anniversary kit for this top of the table clash, and in the opening twenty minutes there was no score in a tense game. Valley had a penalty attempt go just wide, but piled on the pressure, and from the resulting scrum scored from 10 yards out, Hodgson powering over from the back of the scrum, with Ric Spencer converting for 0-7.

Spartans fought back, with a penalty going wide, but the following organised attack saw them score an unconverted try in reply, 5 – 7. Valley responded with more pressure but errors stopped them adding to their lead in the first half. Martin Spencer replaced Mosley at half time, but the game still didn’t settle. There was a lengthy delay following a Spartans injury, but Valley kept focused and again put on pressure with lineouts and scrums in the Spartans half.

Again our hard work was undone by errors and needless penalties being the order of the day. The closeness and importance of the game began to tell, and there was a bit of a kerfuffle, but it was just handbags. Valley drove forward again through Hodgson, and the ball recycled to the backs. A clever kick through from Warren was fumbled by Spartans, and the Valley backs were up in numbers to capitalise, with Hudson picking up to score, and Spencer kicking the conversion, 5-14.

This took the pressure off, and Valley surged forward, with Martin Spencer driving over the line only to be held up. From the resulting scrum, the ball was passed down the back line for hungry winger Matt Johnson to score out wide, to make the final score 5-19 in a extremely hard fought game. Valleys most testing game so far leaves the team with six wins out of six at the top of the table.

Anyone interested in playing for the club should contact captain Tom Hodgson on 07876527049.